CCPC Minutes 06/03/2010 RJune 3, 2010
TRANSCRIPT OF THE MEETING OF THE
COLLIER COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION
Naples, Florida
June 3, 2010
LET IT BE REMEMBERED, that the Collier County Planning
Commission, in and for the County of Collier, having conducted
business herein, met on this date at 8:30 a.m. in REGULAR SESSION
in Building "F" of the Government Complex, East Naples, Florida,
with the following members present:
CHAIRMAN: Mark Strain
Melissa Ahern
Donna Reed -Caron
Karen Homiak
Paul Midney
Bob Murray
Brad Schiffer
Robert Vigliotti (Absent)
ALSO PRESENT:
Jeffrey Klatzkow, County Attorney
Heidi Ashton - Cicko, Assistant County Attorney
Nick Casalanguida, GMD Deputy Administrator
Ray Bellows, Zoning Manager
Thomas Eastman, Real Property Director, CC School District
Page 1
AGENDA
COLLIER COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION WILL MEET AT 8:30 A.M., THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 2010, IN
THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING ROOM, ADMINISTRATION BUILDING,
COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER, 3301 TAMIAMI TRAIL EAST, NAPLES, FLORIDA:
NOTE: INDIVIDUAL SPEAKERS WILL BE LIMITED TO 5 MINUTES ON ANY
ITEM. INDIVIDUALS SELECTED TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF AN ORGANIZATION
OR GROUP ARE ENCOURAGED AND MAY BE ALLOTTED 10 MINUTES TO SPEAK
ON AN ITEM IF SO RECOGNIZED BY THE CHAIRMAN. PERSONS WISHING TO
HAVE WRITTEN OR GRAPHIC MATERIALS INCLUDED IN THE CCPC AGENDA
PACKETS MUST SUBMIT SAID MATERIAL A MINIMUM OF 10 DAYS PRIOR TO
THE RESPECTIVE PUBLIC HEARING. IN ANY CASE, WRITTEN MATERIALS
INTENDED TO BE CONSIDERED BY THE CCPC SHALL BE SUBMITTED TO THE
APPROPRIATE COUNTY STAFF A MINIMUM OF SEVEN DAYS PRIOR TO THE
PUBLIC HEARING. ALL MATERIAL USED IN PRESENTATIONS BEFORE THE CCPC
WILL BECOME A PERMANENT PART OF THE RECORD AND WILL BE
AVAILABLE FOR PRESENTATION TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
IF APPLICABLE.
ANY PERSON WHO DECIDES TO APPEAL A DECISION OF THE CCPC WILL NEED
A RECORD OF THE PROCEEDINGS PERTAINING THERETO, AND THEREFORE
MAY NEED TO ENSURE THAT A VERBATIM RECORD OF THE PROCEEDINGS IS
MADE, WHICH RECORD INCLUDES THE TESTIMONY AND EVIDENCE UPON
WHICH THE APPEAL IS TO BE BASED.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
2. ROLL CALL BY SECRETARY
3. ADDENDA TO THE AGENDA
4. PLANNING COMMISSION ABSENCES
5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES —May 6, 2010
6. BCC REPORT- RECAPS —May 25, 2010
7. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT
8. CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS
A. CP- 2008 -5, Petition requesting an amendment to the Immokalee Area Master Plan and Immokalee
Area Master Plan Future Land Use Map, to make revisions to the entire Master Plan to include:
increases to commercial acreage, industrial acreage, and allowable residential density; elimination of some
existing designations; creation of a new designation for the Immokalee Regional Airport site; and, addition
of approximately 103 acres presently designated Agricultural /Rural within the Rural Lands Stewardship
Area as Identified on the countywide Future Land Use Map. [Coordinator: Carolina Valera, Principal
Planner]
9. ADVERTISED PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. BD- PL2009 -1259 Timothy R. McKenzie represented by Eric Schneider of Turrell, Hall & Associates,
Inc., is requesting a 36 -foot boat dock extension over the maximum 20 -foot protrusion limit as provided in
Section 5.03.06 of the LDC to allow a 56 -foot dock facility to accommodate two vessels. Subject property
is located at 47 Southport Cove, Lot 52 of Southport on the Bay, Unit 2 in Section 6, Township 48 South,
Range 25 East, Collier County, Florida. [Coordinator: Ashley Caserta, Sr. Planner]
B. BD- PL2009 -1157 Michael and Debra Rotkvich, represented by Michael A. Kelly of Paradise Docks, is
requesting a 28.5 -foot boat dock extension over the maximum 20 -foot limit as provided in section 5.03.06
of the LDC to allow a 48.5 -foot dock facility to accommodate two vessels. Subject property is located at
Lot 43 of Southport on the Bay, Unit 2 subdivision in the Lely Barefoot Beach Planned Unit
Development in Section 6, Township 48 South, Range 25 East, Collier County, Florida (street address: 54
Southport Cove). [Coordinator: Ashley Caserta, Sr. Planner]
C. VA- PL2009 -045 Sara Barrera is requesting an after - the -fact variance of 8 feet from the required
minimum front yard setback of 25 feet in a Residential Multi - Family (RMF -6) Zoning District as provided
for in Section 4.02.0I.A. Table 2.1, of the LDC. The 0.34± acre site contains a single family dwelling that
encroaches 8 feet into the required 25 -foot front yard setback reducing the front yard setback to 17 feet.
The subject property is located at 202 Washington Avenue, in Section 33, Township 46 South, Range 29
East, Immokalee, Collier County, Florida. [Coordinator: Nancy Gundlach]
10. OLD BUSINESS
11. NEW BUSINESS
12. PUBLIC COMMENT ITEM
13. DISCUSSION OF ADDENDA
14. ADJOURN
5/24/10 CCPC Agenda/Ray Bellows /jmp
June 3, 2010
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Good morning, everybody. Welcome to
the June 3rd meeting of the Collier County Planning Commission.
If everyone will please rise for Pledge of Allegiance.
(Pledge of Allegiance was recited in unison.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Thank you. And before the roll call this
morning, I'd like to welcome a new Planning Commission Member,
Ms. Melissa Ahern.
COMMISSIONER AHERN: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: And for the spelling, I think it's
A- H- E -R -N.
COMMISSIONER AHERN: Correct.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: And she has been appointed to fill the
remainder of Tor Kolflat's position.
And we had some other news last week, that we are losing Mr.
Wolfley. He is going off to ventures far away and has resigned from
the Planning Commission effective last week, so we will have a new
person sitting over to my left sooner or later. Not this left, but
between Bob and Karen.
So with that in mind, will the secretary please take the roll call.
Item #2
ROLL CALL BY SECRETARY
COMMISSIONER CARON: Well, the secretary would if he
were here, but I'll do it in his stead.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: I'm so used to you being in that position
for years. I'm sorry. Good point.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Mr. Eastman?
MR. EASTMAN: Here.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Ms. Ahern?
COMMISSIONER AHERN: Here.
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June 3, 2010
COMMISSIONER CARON: Mr. Schiffer?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: I'm here.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Mr. Midney?
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Here.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Ms. Caron is here.
Mr. Strain?
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Part of me's here.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Mr. Vigliotti is absent.
Mr. Murray?
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Here.
COMMISSIONER CARON: And Mr. Wolfley is obviously
resigned.
And Ms. Homiak?
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: Here.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Thank you.
Item #3
ADDENDA TO THE AGENDA
CHAIRMAN STRAIN
Addenda to the agenda.
Planning Commission?
(No response.)
Item #4
Okay, thank you. Thanks for filling in.
Are there any changes from staff or the
PLANNING COMMISSION ABSENCES
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, our next Planning Commission
Meeting will be the 15th of June. It's for -- to review -- it's the
adoption hearing for the GMPA's. Does anybody on this panel here
Page 3
June 31 2010
today know if they're not going to make it on the 15th?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay. And the following two days
later, the 17th, is our regular meeting. Does anybody know if they're
not going to make it to the regular meeting`?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Good.
Nick, the GMPA's, how soon will it be before we get those? It
would be nice to have them. That's quite a hefty volume to read and
we're less than two weeks away, and that is going to put a little bit
problem on us to have to get that done plus our regular meeting.
MR. CASALANGUIDA: I signed the cover sheet documents
yesterday, so they're putting the packages together last tonight (sic),
and it should be distributed today or tomorrow.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay. Ray, do you know how intense
the 17th meeting's going to be?
MR. BELLOWS: We have about six items on the agenda.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Oy, yi -yi.
MR. BELLOWS: They look to be two boat docks, a PUD rezone
for North United Methodist Church, and a conditional use for Grace
Place, and another PUD for Meridian Village.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Whoa.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay. Well, that's a lot to digest,
because we're going to have to read the adoption notebook as well as
that stuff at the same time. I would very much appreciate it if staff
could get at least the adoption notebook to us by tomorrow afternoon;
give us the weekend to start on it.
Is that something that you think could happen, Nick?
MR. CASALANGUIDA: I'm texting the office right now to see
if I can get that squared away and give you an answer before the
meeting closes.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Thank you, sir.
Page 4
June 3, 2010
MR. CASALANGUIDA: You're welcome.
Item #5
APPROVAL OF MINUTES — May 6, 2010 REGULAR MEETING
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, let's move on to the approval of
the minutes. They were electronically sent out for May 6th. Anybody
have any comments?
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: Motion to approve.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Made by Ms. Homiak. Seconded by?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: I'll second it.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Schiffer.
Discussion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: All in favor, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Aye.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Aye.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: Aye.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Aye.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Aye.
Anybody opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Motion carries, and that's probably
going to be 6 -0 -- 6 -1, with Ms. Ahern probably abstaining because
she wasn't here, I would assume. Right?
COMMISSIONER AHERN: Correct.
Item #6
BCC REPORT — RECAPS — MAY 25, 2010
Page 5
June 3, 2010
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: BCC reports. Ray?
MR. BELLOWS: Yes, on May 25th, the Board of County
Commissioners heard the variance that was in the Estates for Leo
Lasher. They approved that on the summary agenda, as well as the
rezone for Port of the Islands Community Improvement District and
its companion variance. That was also approved on the summary
agenda.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: That's good. We had spent some time
on the Port of the Islands. I'm glad that worked out for everybody.
Excellent.
Item #7
CHAIRMAN'S REPORT
Okay, Chairman's report. Don't have any, other than I'm
probably like a lot of people, keeping my eyes on the oil spill in the
Gulf of Mexico. I can't imagine anything being any worse than what
we've got dealing with out there. I can only hope we don't have a
hurricane.
Item #8A
PETITION: CP- 2008 -5, AMENDMENT TO THE IMMOKALEE
AREA MASTER PLAN AND IMMOKALEE AREA MASTER
PLAN FUTURE LAND USE MAP
Next item on the agenda, though, is the consent agenda items.
And this is the Immokalee Area Master Plan. There are some changes
recommended by the County Attorney's Office, and one catch by
Margie Student.
Bob, I'll let you get into them.
June 3, 2010
MR. MULHERE: Okay, thank you. For the record, Bob
Mulhere, here on behalf of the CRA. Penny Phillippi is also here this
morning.
I have some changes that are relatively minor from Heidi.
There's about maybe a dozen of them, and I'll go over each one by
page. And then Mariorie's will fall into that going by page.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: That's fine.
MR. MULHERE: And then I know that there's -- Commissioner
Caron mentioned she had some questions, and maybe I'll answer them.
If not, you know, just stop me whenever we come to something that
you had an issue with.
Page 7 is the first one, under Objective 1.1.
By the way, most of these were things I should have caught and
didn't, so in fairness, I appreciate it, Heidi, wherever you are.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: She's in the back behind us.
MR. MULHERE: Okay. Thank you.
It was a team effort, and I appreciate it.
Just after -- the first sentence which reads: The Immokalee --
between Immokalee and por -- between Immokalee and Community
Redevelopment Agency, we're inserting the phrase portion of the
Collier County. So it will read: The Immokalee portion of the Collier
County Community Redevelopment Agency.
Let's move on to the next one, on Page 8. And some of these
changes occur in different locations, the same change. Missed the --
on the first bullet where it presently reads: Support the CRA and the
Economic Development Council, paren. EDC, of Collier County, that
was to have been changed to other economic development entities, so
that's the change we've made.
COMMISSIONER CARON: I'm not even sure, Bob, you need it
there at all, because it's in the second bullet. I mean, I don't know if
you want it in both bullets. It's fine, but --
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Doesn't hurt.
Page 7
June 3, 2010
MR. MULHERE: I think they're different issues, so it's probably
just --
COMMISSIONER CARON: Okay.
MR. MULHERE: -- as well we keep, yeah.
Page 10, a relatively minor change under Policy 2.2.2., pre -
certified commercial industrial sites. In the highlighted one, two,
three, four, fifth sentence down, adding after Economic Development
Council the phrase of Collier County.
And the next one is on Page 11. And this one occurs in a number
of locations, and it's been made in all those locations. If you want me
to cite each one, I will.
But under 2.3.1., in a number of locations, let me see, one, two,
three, fourth sentence down, I had used the phrase Immokalee CRA,
and I used that in a number of locations. And so we struck through
Immokalee. You know, it's redundant; we don't need to say that, just
the CRA. Because we've already parenthetically defined that, or
whatever the --
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Yeah, I don't think you need to keep
going over that one, we understand it.
MR. MULHERE: That's kind of what I thought. That was in a
number of locations.
On Page 12, at the -- those were both -- I think those are both the
same change.
Okay, so going to --
COMMISSIONER CARON: Bob?
MR. MULHERE: Yeah.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Under Policy 2.4.1, it says again
here, will work with the EDC. And EDC needs to come out there
because it's covered under public and private organizations to promote
these opportunities.
MR. MULHERE: Yeah.
COMMISSIONER CARON: And then down at the bottom of
imob
June 3, 2010
the page under Policy 2.5.1, again, second to the last line, it says:
Work with the Immokalee CRA. And then cross out "the" and EDC,
because it's covered with other public and private organizations.
MR. MULHERE: Got it.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Thank you.
MR. MULHERE: Thank you.
Okay, next change that I had -- or should I say Heidi had -- was
on Page 17. And it was relatively minor. For some reason there I left
in the entire written phrase, Immokalee Community Redevelopment
Agency, which should simply say CRA.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: 3.3.1. up on top, right?
MR. MULHERE: Yes, 3.3.1. at the top, yeah.
And again, that same change is made on Page 18 under Policy
4.1.1, striking through Immokalee Community Redevelopment
Agency and just inserting CRA.
On page -- we're going all the way to 29. Two things here. One,
just call your attention to Policy 6.1. 7 .D, which is the language that
was -- that we constructed, that we added, just to call your attention to
that. But there was a typo there, the word "sub-district" was
misspelled, so I corrected that.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay.
MR. MULHERE: And then on Page 30, the phrase -- part of the
direction was to strike through on -- I'm sorry, on Policy 6.1.9.,
rezoning, one, two, three, the fourth line after the word rezone, we
were to strike through the phrase consistent with the prior existing
zoning. I neglected to do that, so we've struck through that now.
That's the extent of Heidi's changes.
I did have one that Marjorie caught and called to our attention,
and that's in the density rating system, so let me get to that, Page 47.
You'll recall that Marjorie raised the issue of VR zoning, which
had never been included in this table or this paragraph. We agreed to
add it. And we did add it to the table, but we neglected to add it to the
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June 3, 2010
text. So we've now made a note to add it. It will be in the one, two,
three, third line after single-family, add a comma, put in VR, comma,
and then it will read and/or RMF-6.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay. That's the extent?
MR. MULHERE: That's the extent of the changes that we had.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Ms. Caron?
COMMISSIONER CARON: Yeah, I have just a couple more.
On Page 41.
MR. MULHERE: Okay.
COMMISSIONER CARON: You see the bullet points on the--
MR. MULHERE: Yes.
COMMISSIONER CARON: -- page?
The second bullet point should have a period after unit
development, because we've -- and cross out "and", because we've n
MR. MULHERE: Thank you. Yeah, got it.
COMMISSIONER CARON: -- crossed out the rest of it.
And Page 51. It is number -- little two there, ii there.
MR. MULHERE: Yes.
COMMISSIONER CARON: It should read: The project is
consistent with and furthers the applicable. So it just needs to reverse
the word not applicable --
MR. MULHERE: Oh, yeah, got it. Thank you.
COMMISSIONER CARON: That's it.
MR. MULHERE: It's just annoying. Patricia would be very
disappointed in my lack of grammatical oversight here. But thank
you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Blame it on your word processor or
being at the Blue Martini or something like that.
Are there any other comments or questions?
Mr. Midney?
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Yes. On Page 55. Unfortunately
I wasn't able to check this with the minutes of the meeting, because we
Page 10
June 3, 2010
don't have those yet. But as I remember, the motion that we approved,
we wanted to go along with the EAC recommendations, and that
would involve keeping it at four dwelling units per acre rather than
changing it to the base density.
MR. MULHERE: I don't recall that.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Yeah, I don't either.
MR. MULHERE: I know that it was the County Attorney, or it
was Heidi Ashton, Assistant County Attorney, that raised the issue of
potential property rights issues for those few districts that already
allow a higher density that fall within that.
But remember, I put on the record that that was less than five
percent of that area. So 95 percent of it would be subject to the four
unit per acre. I don't recall that the vote included changing that back,
so --
MS. ASHTON-CICKO: For the record, Heidi Ashton, Assistant
County Attorney.
There were a couple MR and LR designated sub-districts, which
if you limit it to four, it would have been a reduction in development
rights. So that's why we switched it to sub-districts. So it is -- most of
it is in LR and was a four, but the other ones had a higher density.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Okay, thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Anything else, Paul?
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: No.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, anybody else have any from the
Planning Commission?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Any members of the public have any
comments on the consent issues for the Immokalee Master Plan?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, is there a motion to recommend
approval?
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: So moved.
Page 11
June 3, 2010
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Murray.
Seconded by?
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: (Indicating.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Midney. And that's for consent.
All those in favor, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Aye.
COMMISSIONER AHERN: Aye.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Aye.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: Aye.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Aye.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Aye.
Anybody opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Motion carries. Any that was -- from
the motion maker and the second I'm assuming with the changes we
discussed?
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: With -- obviously, yes, with the
changes, surely.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Yes.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Both acknowledged that.
Okay, good, thank you.
MR. MULHERE: Thank you very much.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Bob, thank you. Appreciate it.
Item #9A
PETITION: BD-PL2009-1259, TIMOTHY R. MCKENZIE
Next up is the advertised public hearings. The first one is
BD-PL2009-1259, Timothy R. McKenzie at 47 Southport Cove.
All those wishing to testify on behalf of this item, please rise to
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June 3, 2010
be sworn in by the court reporter.
(Speakers were duly sworn.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, any disclosures on the part of the
Planning Commission?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: The only disclosure I have is I called
Rocky Scofield after receiving a complaint from the adjoining
property to ask him to look at alternatives on how he might develop
that property to satisfy the complaint, and I think we'll probably hear
on that today.
With that, Rocky, it's all yours.
MR. SCOFIELD: Good morning. For the record, Rocky
Scofield, with Turrell, Hall & Associates, representing Timothy
McKenzie, whose residence is at 47 Southport Cove.
Southport on the Bay is the division -- subdivision in Lely
Barefoot Beach, which I have on the overhead. I'm sure most of you
are familiar with where that is.
This is Southport Cove in here. This is the -- this just shows you
an aerial of the whole peninsula here. And we've done quite a few of
these extensions around the area, anywhere from 30 feet out to almost
70 feet.
This shows -- the dock outlined in blue is the proposed dock for
Mr. McKenzie. And the dock there on the aerial that is existing, is
just to the south of Mr. McKenzie's lot.
We're proposing a dock that's got a 36-foot extension for a total
protrusion of 56 feet into a waterway that is 270 feet wide.
Again, that waterway, that's measured from mean high to mean
high water.
Obviously there's lots of mangroves in this area, so a lot of times
we come back and we look at navigable waterway. The navigable
waterway distance in this area is 152 feet wide.
The land across the -- I'm going to show you the aerial again.
Page 13
June 3, 2010
That shows you the distances from the -- how the 270 is
measured and then the clear distance from mangrove drip line to
mangrove drip line is 152 feet.
So a lot of times what we do in these cases, the -- we go to -- we
show you both distances. Navigability is obviously the question here.
It's 152 feet wide of navigable water. We are protruding 33 feet into
that navigable waterway, which is a protrusion of 22 percent. On the
other measurement, the 270 feet, which is mean high water line to
mean high water line, the 56 feet total distance is a 20.7-foot
protrusion.
The dock is configured -- the setbacks on the dock are 18 feet on
the south property from the south riparian line. It's 25 feet from the
north riparian line. It shows the access to their boatlifts is from the
north, and that's why we've left a little bit more distance on the north
side, so we won't have conflict should a dock in the future be built on
the vacant lot to the north of Mr. McKenzie, if they were to build in at
the 15 feet, which is the county setbacks.
So we have -- we've received staff approval. Staff has gone
through these, we've met all the criteria on both sections of the boat
dock extension application, and I'll answer any questions you have.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, questions from the Planning
Commission.
Mr. Schiffer?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Yeah, Rocky, that 13-foot
dimension you showed to the neighbor's dock, is that a survey
dimension or is that something you got off the appraiser --
MR. SCOFIELD: That's a survey. You know, when -- the boat
dock extension, part of the application is you have to have a legal
survey of the property and the structures on either side of you.
So every time we come before you, we have to show the position
of what we're proposing in relationship to the existing structures on
either side of what's being presented to you.
Page 14
June 3, 2010
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: And where is that shown in our
packet? Because I never saw the neighbor's survey.
MR. SCOFIELD: It's on the survey.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: It's on the foldout ll-by-17 sheet, the
first one.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: I got it, thank you.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: I have a question.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Murray?
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Rocky, in the letter that I've
received from Mr. Olah--
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Pull the mic. closer to you, Bob.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Oh, I'm sorry. Can you hear me
now?
MR. SCOFIELD: Yes.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: In a letter that we've received
from Mr. Olah, the concern -- one of the concerns they have is the
ability to maneuver around the proposed dock in accessing the boat-
lifts.
Do we have a calculation, a space calculation there to be able to
determine that as a probability? In other words, if you put -- I guess
maybe can you show the two properties so that we can determine, or
at least get a sense of? I'm trying to understand how that concern will
be valid.
MR. SCOFIELD: Okay. Well, it's -- you know, their dock and
lift is 13 feet out where the lift is from their riparian line. Our
proposed dock is 18 feet off the riparian line. So there's a distance of
31 feet.
Now, that's going to change a little bit when you put -- when you
put a boat on the neighbors to the south, when a boat goes on there,
then it's going to be sticking out to the north probably another three
feet. But still, depending on what size boat it has, there's 31 feet from
that lift to our dock.
Page 15
June 3, 2010
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Yeah, and I appreciate that.
The mooring of the vessels is intended to be more northerly of
their property, is it not, on that decking and dock configuration that
you've drawn there?
MR. SCOFIELD: You mean for the proposed dock?
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Yes, sir.
MR. SCOFIELD: Yes, they're accessed from the north.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: So if you will, assuming north
being the top coming down --
MR. SCOFIELD: That's correct.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: -- they would gain entry to their
mooring by just approaching the dock and sliding in.
MR. SCOFIELD: Right. And that's -- the configuration of the
dock was designed that way because we know, we're well aware of the
neighbor's proximity to the riparian line.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Sure.
MR. SCOFIELD: So not to interfere with them and us being
able to get in -- Mr. McKenzie being able to get in and out, allowing
also for the person, whoever moves in to the north of him, this is the
configuration that works and doesn't interfere with anybody else's.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: So from the largest vessel that's
shown there to the point where their interference might be construed
would be the riparian line. But that would be 13 feet plus some eight
or nine feet before they would actually -- any vessel would actually
get over into their riparian right area. Did you understand me?
MR. SCOFIELD: No.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Let me try again.
MR. SCOFIELD: Yeah, go ahead.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: I'm looking at the larger vessel
on that diagram. And from the tip of that vessel to the bow you have a
distance -- and I don't know, what is that 19, 15 feet, something like
that? Okay?
Page 16
June 3, 2010
MR. SCOFIELD: It's a 25-foot setback.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: That is including the riparian
line. So it's 25 feet --
MR. SCOFIELD: That's correct.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: -- before they would ever -- that
Mr. McKenzie's vessel could possibly even enter into the riparian right
area --
MR. SCOFIELD: Of the --
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: -- of the adjacent--
MR. SCOFIELD: Right.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Okay, thank you, that's what I
needed to understand.
MR. SCOFIELD: Right.
And when people -- you know, riparian rights are there for
structures. And your -- the code also says it's for moored vessel and
the structure.
Boats utilize other peoples, inside their riparians. They come
across their lines. I mean, that's just a common thing with boating,
you have to do that a lot of times to get in and out of your docks. And
that's, you know, we try to minimize those things so there's no
conflict. That's why we put the boats over on that side, so there's not
boats backing out the other way to the south that would interfere with
the neighbor to the south.
COMMISSIONER MURRA Y: But that's also considered to be
the navigable waterway as well, is it not?
MR. SCOFIELD: Where the dock is?
COMMISSIONER MURRAY : Yes.
MR. SCOFIELD: Oh, yes.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: So it would not be any kind of a
transgression, it would be normal maneuvering.
MR. SCOFIELD: That's correct.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Anybody else have any questions?
Page 17
June 3, 2010
Ms. Caron?
COMMISSIONER CARON: Yeah, just a quick one.
Rocky, the information that was provided to us, this platform that
you have here, it said something about it was for handicapped access?
MR. SCOFIELD: Mr. McKenzie has a paraplegic son who has
use of his hands, but he's in a wheelchair. And this is -- what he's
doing, he's going to put in a deck boat here for his son and make it
accessible. His son can go out by himself on this boat.
He needs a turnaround area when he gets in and out. The docks
-- the walkways are only allowed to be four feet wide in this area due
to conservation easements and all of that stuff. So when he gets out
there he needs to be able to maneuver to turn around if he needs to and
get back.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Okay, that's what -- I was just
trying to figure that out. Because I have a mother who's in a
wheelchair and I know what it takes to maneuver. And that five-foot
area down to the boats --
MR. SCOFIELD: Right.
COMMISSIONER CARON: -- certainly was not going to get
somebody in a wheelchair on and off.
MR. SCOFIELD: He can get on the boat when he gets -- you
know; obviously there'll be a ramp onto the boat there and -- to the
smaller boat for him. And when he gets off, obviously he's going in
the right direction. But if he were to get out there and had to turn
around, that's what that's for.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Anybody else have any questions?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: I'll make a comment.
But Rocky, code five-foot turnaround is -- I mean, the dock is 15
feet you're making for the turnaround? Do you think that's excessive,
or -- and since, you know, when the dock comes through the
mangroves, it really could cut over towards where you're positioning
the lifts at an angle too and kind of cut away some of that -- you know,
Page 18
".,___."",__",",__V',,___,"_,.,_,,'_'__'_'''..._.__n_....,,~.. ....,.~..,_...,_...."_...~'._.."M._...'._... ~___.w_,~-.._._.....,""__,___._~,, .~....
June 3, 2010
there is concern over excessive dock in this review.
MR. SCOFIELD: Right.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: So in other words, a five-foot
turnaround is what most people would be looking for, not a IS-foot
turnaround.
And could you not angle that over a little bit and kind of make
that a little bit easier to come around that area for the neighbor?
MR. SCOFIELD: That may be possible.
What we're stating here -- you know, we did this -- obviously
design this way, and we're staying under the state rules.
This -- the state rules in outstanding Florida waters is under --
500 square feet or under. That's what this dock was designed to. And,
you know, the IS-foot area was just a design feature. I think that's --
you know, is it -- could it be cut down a little? Maybe.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: You know what's a better position on
that, you may want to take those two docks, the five-foot and the four
one, extend them straight out till they meet and create a comer, and
that be the outside comer of that deck that you've put there. And
move the rest of the deck in closer to the mangroves. That's a dead
space anyway; you're not going to put a boat there, it's not going to
hurt anybody to --
MR. SCOFIELD: Of the turnaround area?
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Right. You understand what I'm
saying?
MR. SCOFIELD: Right.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: That might be a solution, and it would
eliminate some of the concerns maybe the neighbor has over view. It
leaves the same amount of deck but moves it inside closer to your
property in an area you can't use and nobody could use anyway.
Instead of making it go out farther. So do you see anything that would
be problemat --
MR. SCOFIELD: Yeah, I don't -- yeah, just looking at it, yeah,
Page 19
June 3, 2010
that could be moved in. You see the five-foot figure?
COMMISSIONER CARON: Yeah.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Right.
MR. SCOFIELD: Here, let me put the bigger one on.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Yeah, take that five-foot--
MR. SCOFIELD: That could just be, yeah, brought back five
feet right there.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Right.
MR. SCOFIELD: And that would give a little bit better angle for
the neighbors.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Right. And it also would, you know,
keep it all to an inside area that you --
MR. SCOFIELD: Right.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: -- couldn't use anyway.
MR. SCOFIELD: I don't think the owner would have any
problem with that.
COMMISSIONER CARON: This is what you're talking about?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Just slide it over.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Schiffer?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: But what is going to happen on
that deck? I mean, is that for a table and chairs, or--
MR. SCOFIELD: No, you can't -- you're not allowed to do that.
The state regulates that. Even though this is exempt, they call those --
you know, it happens, but that's called non-water dependent structures.
You're not supposed to have umbrellas and tables and all that stuff
there. Anything you put out there needs to be water dependent.
A dock box to have your supplies for your boats, you know,
that's okay. Table, chairs, lounge chairs, stuff like that is not.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: So why are you making it 15
feet by 15 feet? I know you truncated the comers a little, but why
does it have to be that big? What's going to happen out there?
It's certainly not for a handicap turnaround.
Page 20
June 3, 2010
MR. SCOFIELD: Right. Well, it's--
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: And if it was, it's a bad design
anyway, because the guy would have to back the length of the dock to
turn around. So what is going to happen on 15 feet by 15 feet?
MR. SCOFIELD: Well--
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: You've got to use the mic.
MR. SCOFIELD: I'm sorry, excuse me.
Ray was actually -- yeah, that's what I think Mark was talking
about.
Now, if you want to cut down that turnaround area a few feet,
you know, that's not a problem. This was just a design that the owner
wanted to go with. We were staying under the 500 square foot rule to
be exempt from state regs in this area. And, you know, I don't see any
problem with what Ray just put up on the screen. We still don't
believe even reducing that -- that can be reduced a few feet, but it's
still not excessive, we don't believe it is, for the wheelchair.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: So it's solely going to be open
for a wheel -- in other words, the question I'm asking, what are you
going to use it for? If you're going to use it for a turnaround, it's
exceSSIve.
MR. SCOFIELD: It's a turnaround and for dock box storage for
supplies for the boats.
If you want to make a recommendation to reduce that five feet, I
can certainly, you know, put that to the owner.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: I will certainly make that
recommendation, that it not be larger than a 10- foot by 10- foot. And
even that's giving you a lot of extra room. It's giving you five by five
extra.
MR. SCOFIELD: Okay.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Brad, if they move it in like this
drawing shows and it's in dead space anyway, and they're not
exceeding the limit set by the state, what difference does it make?
Page 21
June 3, 2010
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Well, I mean, the state has a
maximum of threshold. And they're designing this thing to meet the
threshold and essentially getting as much dock as they can get. So I
just -- he's not answering why they really need it. It can't be for
handicap turnaround because it's an excessive amount to that.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: But I'm looking at it from a different
angle. Who cares why they need it? They have an ability to put that
much in, they own a waterfront lot, that's not a bad design. If they
want to use it to put a dock box or give themselves more latitude to
walk back and forth, especially in a wheelchair on the edge of a water,
what's wrong with that?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Well, because I think what it
will be, it will be a table with an umbrella and chairs and a place to go
down by the water and sit.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: It could--
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: But the state doesn't want it out
on these docks. That's--
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: But see, it could be that in any condition
you have here.
MR. SCOFIELD: Yeah, I mean, that's -- you know, that's
conjecture. I mean, anybody can go do that, even on a five or six-foot
dock if they want.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: But then why do you want it so
big? I mean, just to -- so that you can brag to the --
MR. SCOFIELD: That's what the owner conveyed to us that he
would like to have for his son and what they would want, and we were
staying under the state rules. And we don't view that -- as Mr. Strain
said, that's dead space area, especially when you move it back in
anyway closer to the mangroves, so we don't feel it's excessive.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: I'm done.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Anybody else?
Mr. Murray?
Page 22
- --'-.--.-'.------_..._~,_._~._._ '-'-"-"_-"'_""~'_'_.*_'__'."__~~.'____",.._w._'_,,'_,'"
June 3, 2010
COMMISSIONER MURRA Y: I would favor Commissioner
Schiffer's view on that, to reduce the size, and lO-by-lO is fine.
If that's a question -- I don't know that that's a view issue. And I
can understand that, you know, we can countenance the idea of okay,
they'll probably put tables and chairs there anyway. But it just seems
extraordinarily large. And if it's the -- if the premise is for turnaround
for the wheelchair, that falls short, in my opinion.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Any other comments by the Planning
Commission?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, Rocky, thank you.
Ashley?
MR. SCOFIELD: If I may, I believe there's some public
speakers here today, if! could re-address the board after they're done.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Sure.
And I believe that this would be Ashley's, probably last
presentation before this board. She is moving to the CRA. It's called
the flight of CDES, because Nick is there.
MS. CASERTA: It's not true.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Well, Ashley, you've been a real good
help to this board so we thank you. And the best of luck in your new
position. The CRA is very fortunate to have you coming on board.
MS. CASERTA: Thank you. It's Bayshore, not the Immokalee.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: And the only who's spoken up for Nick,
so --
MR. CASALANGUIDA: There's a little extra in the check,
Ashley.
MS. CASERTA: For the record, Ashley Caserta, Senior Planner
with the Zoning Department.
I just have a few things I wanted to point out. There was a typo
on Page 6 of my staff report. And that staff report -- towards the
bottom it states that staff analysis indicates that the request meets four
Page 23
June 3, 2010
of the five primary criteria, and it should read all of the five.
I had a few conversations on the phone and over the e-mail --
over e-mails that I sent to you from Mr. and Mrs. Olah. And Sylvia
Olah is here to speak. And I forwarded their comments to this panel.
And I did receive one phone call from a neighbor at 43 Southport
Cove stating that they have no objection to this petition.
And that's all that I have, unless you have any questions for me.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Anybody have any questions of staff?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, Ashley, thank you.
Ray, do we have any public speakers?
MR. BELLOWS: None on this item.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, does anybody in the public wish
to speak on this item?
Yes, ma'am. Just come on up and identify yourself in the
microphone, and let us know what you have on your mind.
MS.OLAH: Silvia Olah. O-L-A-H. S-I-L-V-I-A.
Good morning. First of all, I want to apologize that my
husband's not here with me. He had to leave yesterday because he had
a prior business commitment in New York. And so I -- we both felt it
was so important us to be here and comment and express our
concerns, and so I'm here.
I don't want beleaguer you, because you've received our written
comments already, but I just -- just as a brief background, we
purchased the home last November, 2009, with the intent of making it
our primary residence and retirement home.
And the boatlift and dock has been there for the past 11 years.
And we are looking forward to a wonderful--living in a wonderful
environment and boating possibilities for us.
Currently you can see in our packet our aerial view of our dock.
We have an unobstructed water view and an unobstructed waterway
access. And we feel and we're concerned that the proposed dock will
Page 24
June 3, 2010
have a negative impact on both.
The way the dock protrudes out into the waterway, if you're
looking at the edge of our dock, which our dock protrudes about 20,
25 feet. So we're actually in the middle of their walkway and seeing a
very huge dock structure there.
The private homes around our cove with their docks all have
boats either parallel or very, very close to the water line and not
protruding right into the waterway.
And in looking at how we have gotten the design from Ashley,
who was so kind to forward it to us, we feel that our ability to dock
into our boatlift that faces the adjoining property of the proposed dock
will be difficult.
We've asked a few people in our community that own homes and
own boats there to just come and give a quick visual look. And they
said that even an experienced boater, which obviously we're not yet,
would have some difficulty maneuvering the dock into that specific
boatlift.
And also what we didn't mention in our small letter was our
concern of safety and property damage. In these maneuvers, should
something occur, we would not have to have -- we would not like our
safety and the safety of our passengers affected, as well as damaging
-- possibly doing some damage to the proposed dock or odd dock as
we maneuver the boat into that boat slip.
And I know that the aerial shots give you a view, but if you are
standing at our dock looking at the waterway, it really looks as if the
protrusion of that dock will be -- will be right in that waterway.
So basically in conclusion, and thank you so much for listening
to our concerns and taking them into account, we currently have, you
know, an unobstructed water view, unobstructed waterway passage
from both our docks that is -- will be compromised.
And on the other hand, the owner of the proposed dock will have
an unobstructed view and an unobstructed access to the waterway we
Page 25
June 3, 2010
feel at somewhat at our expense.
So we hope that there is some type of dock configuration
available that would mitigate what we feel we are concerned about.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Thank you.
Any questions of Ms. Olah?
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Yeah, I do.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Murray?
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Ma'am, I appreciate your
concerns, I do. But I'm going to ask you what I think might be a little
bit of a tough question for you.
When you buy a property and you have a lovely place and you
look out and you see unencumbered, it's lovely, and you don't want to
see that changed. But I mean, in reality, you must know that things
will change, right?
MS. OLAH: Uh-huh. And we --
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: And your question -- what
you're looking for is something to be reasonable, and that's where the
real question lies, what is reasonable.
And I have -- I've done a bit of boating myself, sailboat, which is
a singles crew and quite challenging to maneuver, and so I can
appreciate your concern. But at the same time, because I have boated
I understand that just like driving a car, one learns how to deal with it.
Why do you believe that you and those persons -- why do you
believe with that much distance that you will have difficulty with your
dock? What is it that you see that I fail to see?
MS.OLAH: Well, we were looking at purchasing two boats,
somewhere between 20 and 28 feet. And the distances -- the distance
between the riparian line from us and the riparian line from them
would restrict the size of the boat.
I tried to call several boat dealers to understand if there is some
type of formula, if you have a 20- foot boat how long -- how much of a
space do you need to maneuver into a slip such as ours. And I was
Page 26
June 3, 2010
told there is no formula, that it depends on the radius of the boat.
So, you know, having that much space, whatever the space is,
restricts. And I'm not quite sure how much room we have based on
the angle we would need to come in on at that boat dock.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: If! -- pardon me.
MS. OLAH: And it's just a concern and we're just expressing it.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: And I appreciate that. And you
mentioned New York where your husband is. And I think that most
persons, especially young people, when they start out with parallel
parking, they wish the cars were two lengths away instead of being
like that. And it's a matter of learning and it's scary, and I understand
that.
And I'm not going to judge how you will do, but I know that
most boaters get adjusted. And I wish you well with that. I think your
concerns are valid, but they may not be as severe as you expect they
could be.
MS.OLAH: I do appreciate that.
And the only consideration we're asking is, is there anything that
could be done to the proposed dock that would, you know, mitigate or
help us to have the least amount of negative impact.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: And I understand that. And I
have one last question relative to that.
I was looking at the pictures that were given us in our packet.
And from your house it seems that the -- I'm guessing now because I
haven't been there. It would seem that you cannot -- if you're standing
by your lawn, I'm assuming you have a lawn, you couldn't see past the
mangroves because they seem to be high. So your view is that of
mangrove. And in the distance you see the waterway from a floor.
So you would have to go out to your dock in order to see that
there's an obstruction caused by any other dock; is that correct?
MS.OLAH: Well, we do have a wraparound terrace on the
second floor that --
Page 27
June 3, 2010
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Second floor.
MS.OLAH: -- oversees everything.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Okay. All right. Well, I thank
you very much.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: I thought you had said the view that you
were concerned about when your initial discussion started was from
your dock.
MS. OLAH: Right, yes.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Right, okay. And from your dock, any
dock that's put north of you will have a change in your view.
But you said something, you were going to get two boats
somewhere between 20 and 28 feet. Your permit that you supplied to
us shows 18 feet for one boat and 24 from the other. And it shows the
18- foot boat on the side facing this particular neighbor, and it shows
your setback to be 15 feet and you're only 13 feet.
You know, a lot of your concerns may be self-imposed. If your
dock was built properly or if you wanted larger boats and you rebuilt
your dock to accommodate larger boats, you may be able to avoid the
concerns that you have here today.
MS. OLAH: You know, this was just recently brought to our
attention. We purchased the home in November of2009. And we
aren't at the state of mind -- you know, we're intent on looking into our
boat acquisitions after my husband retires at the end of this year so,
you know, I'm not totally cognizant of all the details. I'm sure we'll
discover it as we discover everything else when we come down here.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: You've got to be careful, because if you
go out to purchase a boat and you buy one in excess of what you were
supposed to put there, you could end up in some more trouble, so --
MS.OLAH: I appreciate that.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: -- I'd check all that stuff before you go
buy and save you some effort. Or at least before you go buy, if you
want to change your docks to accommodate a larger boat, come in and
Page 28
June 3, 2010
get the right permits for it.
Okay, anybody else have any questions?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Thank you, ma'am.
MS. OLAH: Thank you very much.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Are there any other members of the
public that would like to speak?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay. Rocky, did you want to have any
final comments?
MR. SCOFIELD: Yes, I just wanted to say a few things.
I appreciate Mr. Murray's comments on the mangroves. I've been
on this site, and a lot of these areas up here, the mangroves do hide the
docks from the first floor of the patios. Obviously when you get to the
second story on these places, you can see a lot of everything.
But, you know, my client from his second story, he's got a pretty
tall house, he can see all the other docks too. And that's just a function
of living on the water. Nobody has an unobstructed view, pretty
much. You know, you're going to see a dock here and there in this
area.
So with that, my client -- I met with Mrs. Olah yesterday, and I
understand her concerns. And the way their dock -- they didn't build
-- they inherited that dock; they bought the home. And as you pointed
out today, there are some problems with that. But that's what they're
stuck with. I understand that.
We're here today for -- to get an extension for my client who no
fault of his that that dock is the way it is and that their problems are
the way -- we have designed this dock not to be a problem with
anybody. And that's what we're here on the -- there's plenty of room to
the south of the neighbor's dock, the Olah's dock. There's 33 feet
from their dock to the south property line. And that's totally
unobstructed access in that area.
Page 29
June 3, 2010
So Mr. McKenzie is -- you know, he wants to be a good
neighbor, and I can certainly -- the comments that were made today,
by bringing the turnaround area in five feet, reducing it to 10 feet, I
don't -- if you want to -- if that's your wish, I can run that by Mr.
McKenzie. Again, he -- you know, he doesn't want to cause any
problems here. But we're not -- our dock designed the way it is should
stand alone. But, you know, we're open to what you have to say.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Well, it's interesting this reduction in
footage. If you take and lop off the five feet that extends past the
five- foot dock that you have out there, you end up with a 10- foot area.
So maybe that's all you -- could you put that diagram back on? I think
that's all you need to do. Instead of moving anything back in, you just
simply lop off the outside five feet and you end up with an area that's
-- see what I'm saying?
MR. SCOFIELD: That would probably work.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Well, that's not what you're
saying on the screen.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: No, that's Ray's architecture.
MR. SCOFIELD: No, no, no, he just moved the whole thing
back. I understand what you're saying.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Saw off everything --
MR. SCOFIELD: Just saw that off.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Drop the five feet that's outside the
five- foot dock and you're covered.
MR. SCOFIELD: That's correct. I don't think Mr. McKenzie
would have a problem with that.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: He shouldn't.
MR. SCOFIELD: And that would obviously give the neighbor a
little bit more comer to cut coming into their lift.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Brad, does that--
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: I like that. That's fine. Let's go
with that.
Page 30
June 3, 2010
But Rocky, one thing too, is if you want to help a handicapped
person, instead of making the dock five feet wide, if you made that
six, maybe even seven, that's where the help would be, not where the
two docks intersect, to give him the chance to turn around.
In other words, getting on and off the boat's going to be his
problem. That's where he's going to need the dimension. You know
what I mean? Where you have the five-foot leg of that, if you were in
here saying I've got to make that seven for handicapped, I would be --
MR. SCOFIELD: Right. Well, they're going to put in a -- there's
a ramp platform between the dock and the boat that's going to have
enough width where they can angle back and go.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: But that's where it needs to be
turning --
MR. SCOFIELD: I understand.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: The second thing, just a quick --
MR. SCOFIELD: He said that this -- you know, that that would
be okay with the ramp system. They're going to have a pontoon boat
and have a ramp out to it.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: After then one question is after
a dock is installed, is there an as-built survey to anything to catch the
problem that happened on their lot? I mean, first of all, you didn't
build that dock to the south, right?
MR. SCOFIELD: No, I did not. And I didn't do the BDE either.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: But when you complete a dock,
do we have a system where we do a survey to --
MR. SCOFIELD: Usually you -- the county has an as-built
survey that's required.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Showing it in the wrong place?
Because that's a really poorly positioned dock.
MR. SCOFIELD: You bet.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: This boat's going to cantilever
off the back of the lift and make it even worse.
Page 31
June 3, 2010
MR. SCOFIELD: If you look on the aerial-- and this is a
problem. You know, when docks were built, and I probably have
done this in the past too, but when they -- surveys obviously weren't
required. When this BDE was done, surveys weren't required.
Somebody just handed in a drawing, we -- you know, everybody
assumes it's all -- the drawings are in good faith, that's the way it is.
That's why the BD -- obviously the BDE would not have been passed
if the dock angled over.
And you can see when -- excuse me. The -- when you look at the
riparian line -- now, the walkway, the Olah's dock -- or used to be the
Leck (phonetic), they're the people that used to own it. It's 15 feet
where it meets the land, okay. That's what it was shown on the old
drawings. But when they built it, it angled out, and that's where you
get the 13 feet. Of course there were no as-built surveys as you're --
certifications as you're saying now. Those are in place today.
And surveyors go out and layout -- we're not into -- unless we're
into construction management, which we don't do most private
residential, but we sure ask that the contractors get a surveyor to lay
out the points of the dock so it is where it's supposed to be.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Right. But in the construction
of a dock even today there's no survey required and there's no as-built
survey required?
MR. SCOFIELD: I believe there is. I believe there is.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: And this isn't that old. This is
10 years old?
MR. SCOFIELD: That was done in '99,
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: That's 11 years. That should
have had all those surveys.
MR. SCOFIELD: Yeah, those rules weren't in place then of the
surveys.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Rocky, based on the drawing you have
Page 32
" 0____.._._....., '''''''''_''_''''_'__~_''''''__'_'''_'_''_'_'''_ ,.. ._-" ,,_,__. ""'>"'~"'_'~""'_'_"'~,'''_'____'',_'~''__''~'''._._~ .._._....._ .._. _~'~'_',,,,,,,,,,,,,y_,""h""~,~,,__,^,_,,_,,,__,_,_",,,__
June 3, 2010
here, that 42 feet, does that mean the Olah's boat dock has a 22-foot
dock extension as well?
MR. SCOFIELD: That 42 feet --
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Because Ms. Olah doesn't believe they
have a dock extension, but I think -- it looks like they do.
MR. SCOFIELD: They do. There was an after-the-fact boat
dock extension applied for by the contractor at that time.
What had happened, if you read back through all the paperwork,
that was the Leck residence, prior to the Olahs. You know, they
showed it out 20 feet. Well, as we know, that's a -- they got a permit
for it and then lifts went in also. Now they're out 32 feet. And that's
where it happened; they made them come back in for an after-the-fact.
The 42 feet, if you look at the aerial, whenever we -- and if you
zoomed it out, you'll see the whole peninsula. Whenever we come
into you, we do -- everybody in the area, we go in from on the
computer on the aerials, and we calculate, we estimate. And it's pretty
close, where -- how far out the extensions are. A lot of these
extensions I have in files, so we know that.
Now, the discrepancy between the 32 feet and our 42 feet, you
know, that's what we estimated off of an aerial. So, you know, I don't
know how pertinent that is here right now, but--
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Murray?
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: And looking at the prior, where
you showed the Olah's dock, I believe with -- of course this is a
guess-timation, but looking at the numbers there, I would be very
concerned if they were to put in a 28- foot boat in there and try to mix
it. There's just -- that would be the wrong size boat for that area.
Neither side there looks like it would be okay.
MR. SCOFIELD: Well, the problem you have is a 28-foot boat
is in actuality at least a 34- foot boat -- excuse me, a 32- foot boat. You
have outboards hanging out, you have bow pulpits. And then, you
know, 28-foot boat is overall length of 32. Then you're going to need
Page 33
June 3, 2010
more than that to maneuver, obviously. And you have to keep the
boats apart. So they have some problems there that they're, you know,
putting in a bigger boat.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: I have a quick --
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Brad, did you have a question?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: -- question.
Ray, could you go to the other picture you have.
And the question might be, Rocky, is maybe when they did the
riparian lines they didn't just extend the property line. We've had
great testimony on where riparian goes. And should it not go
perpendicular to the center of that channel? So maybe those lines
rotate upwards in their appli --
MR. SCOFIELD: You know, no, they don't. Their appli -- I
mean, I can show you their application. It comes straight off.
And that's what -- you know, yeah, you know, if -- the thread of
that channel, it's pretty close. It's almost exactly perpendicular to the
thread of the channel the way those lines are right now. If you drew
straight down through there, that cut, it's pretty dam close. They may
cant a little bit, but it's not much. But when we have older docks that
have already been through the process, they've been approved, we
kind of have to go with their -- what their riparian lines they used back
then. Because if we change them drastically, then they wouldn't be in
compliance and that kind of thing.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Right. But the riparian, if
somebody did do a center line, I could see where that angle would lift
up and essentially bring their dock into compliance and actually start
raising questions on your --
MR. SCOFIELD: It might shift a couple of feet, but the center
line there is pretty close to being perpendicular.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: You know, I just said that to
make Mark's tooth hurt more. So I'm done.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Thank you.
Page 34
June 3, 2010
Rocky, I have one question. It's not really an issue, I just want --
I'm just curious.
When you do the drip line dots on your maps for the mangrove
line, do you go out and survey those drip lines or do you pull it off the
aerial?
MR. SCOFIELD: No. Surveyed.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Survey.
MR. SCOFIELD: That's all-- if you look at your foldout
surveys, the drip line's on there.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: I know, but they match the aerial. So I
didn't know which one you took them off of. But you actually survey
them and it just happened in this case they do match the area.
MR. SCOFIELD: What we do, if you'll no -- it doesn't exactly.
We super-impose -- we layer on the--
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Rocky, you're getting into more detail
than I needed.
MR. SCOFIELD: Okay, we just layer that over the--
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Let's not belabor the point. I needed it
for background. Thank you.
MR. SCOFIELD: It's surveyed. You can --
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Rocky?
MR. SCOFIELD: -- see there, it's not quite --
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Thank you, sir. I appreciate that.
COMMISSIONER MURRA Y: Good man.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, any other questions of anybody?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Is there--
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: I'll make a motion.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Yeah.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, we'll close the public hearing,
entertain a motion.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: I move that we recommend
Page 35
June 3, 2010
approval of this with the adjustment made by cutting out the dock and
the extension past the five-foot section of the dock.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, it wouldn't be to recommend.
Make a motion to approve?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: I made it to approve, not
recommend.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: I thought you said recommend.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: No, I'm approving. I know this
is the end.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay. Is there a second?
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: I'll second that.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Murray seconded.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: But I'm not certain it's as clear. I
would want to match it to a drawing or something.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Well, Ray did a sketch.
And Rocky, also --
MR. SCOFIELD: In the consent we will revise the drawing and
bring it back in for the consent agenda. And it will be -- I'll be here
and we'll put that on the overhead for the consent agenda.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: That would be good.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: And Rocky, you don't have --
see the little truncated piece? You don't have to do that. I mean, this
drawing is somewhat deceptive in scale. But see the little piece that --
you know, the original design had almost a hexagon thing going.
MR. SCOFIELD: Right.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: You don't have to keep that
little hexagon --
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Square it off.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: -- the piece of that, okay? You
could square it off.
MR. SCOFIELD: Yeah, we have to change it for all the building
permits and everything anyway, so --
Page 36
June 3, 2010
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, there's been a motion made and
seconded.
Discussion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: All in favor, signifY by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Aye.
COMMISSIONER AHERN: Aye.
COMMISSIONER MURRA Y: Aye.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: Aye.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Aye.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Aye.
Anybody opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Motion carries 7-0.
Okay, thank you all.
Item #9B
PETITION: BD-PL2009-1157, MICHAEL AND DEBRA
ROTKVICH
Next item up is Petition BD-PL2009-1l57, Michael and Debra
Rotkvich. It's at Lot 43 of Southport on the Bay, unit two.
All those wishing to testify on behalf of this item, please rise to
be sworn in by the court reporter.
(Speakers were duly sworn.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Any disclosures from the Planning
Commission?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, sir, it's all yours.
Page 37
June 3, 2010
MR. KELLY: For the record, my name is Mike Kelly. I am the
president of Paradise Docks, who will be the builder of this project.
And first thing I must do is apologize, I didn't have any colored
beautiful photographs like Rocky did, but I have some things to show
this construction of this dock. I hope this is clear enough.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Clearer than what?
MR. KELLY: Well, anyway, we're going to be located right
across the street, as a point of reference. As you notice, the Little
Hickory Bay, we're on the other side of Little Hickory Bay and the --
and I've got an additional overhead. And this is the actual location.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: That's much better.
MR. KELLY: Thank you very much, I appreciate that.
But the location is almost directly across the street from them.
Not -- almost.
But this site location is in the Little Hickory Bay area.
Oh, there you go, that's even better.
As you can see in reference to the one we just discussed, it is
very close to -- just a little bit south of that.
As you can see, both the neighbors on either side of Mr. Rotkvich
have docks existing. We're going to have a 25-foot setback on either
side. And I designed - this dock is meant to not impede the navigation
of any other docks or interfere with their navigation whatsoever.
As you can see, this is an older drawing, but I believe about a
25-foot boat is about the maximum we can get in there. I had initially
a 30- foot boat, but Mr. Rotkvich indicated that he didn't plan to
purchase anything that large.
This is an older drawing. And at this time he was going to put a
single -- either a PWC, which is personal watercraft, jet ski type of
watercraft, or a flats boat on the other side.
The dock extends into the water 48 and a half feet. We're
approximately -- well, we are 58 feet, a little in excess of 58 feet from
the thread of the channel.o
Page 38
June 3, 2010
And this is a survey that was done by the water with depth
readings all the way out. And they used the rangefinder that is
accurate within a tenth of an inch to determine the actual thread of the
channel.
So the dock was again designed to give -- to not impede
navigation from any of the neighbors. And it is set up for ease of
access for Mr. Rotkvich for both of his watercraft.
By the way, the -- both of the watercraft, if you add them up, do
not exceed the 50 percent rule for the watercraft limit. Even after this
older drawing.
At this point I have another drawing. I don't think it's quite --
actually, that drawing that you had would be -- the color photograph,
that would be great.
We've already obtained DEP and Army Corps approval for this
project. It has a 25-foot setback from the riparian lines to the -- to
each side of the dock. That gives 25 feet from his dock to his riparian
line. And then as you can see, his neighbor's docks on either side,
there's no problem with their navigation.
I was contacted by the neighbor to his right as you're facing the
water, and he requested a copy of the plans, which I provided for him.
I sent them to him by fax. So he -- that's all he requested. And he was
happy with the result. So -- at this time --
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Anybody have any questions?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: I do, Mark.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Schiffer, then Mr. Murray.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: The concern I have is that the
way you oriented the lift, the -- it's going to actually cantilever out a
little further than the dimension you requested. In other words, it's
going to protrude past the -- you know, your dimension.
And I think there might be concern, because we really have to
measure to the --
MR. KELLY: To the vessel?e
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June 3, 2010
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: -- to the total vessel size. So in
other words, all these dimensions here, there is one little small
four-foot showing one of the beams of the thing, but are we asking for
the right amount?
Because for example, that 48-five, or 46-five, you're actually --
the motors and everything are going to stick out way past that.
MR. KELLY: It's -- actually we're asking for 48-five. I'm sorry,
did I --
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: So is that including -- okay.
MR. KELL Y: Yes, sir, that includes the vessel. Ashley checked
me on that. I had it to the edge of the outside lift piling.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Okay.
MR. KELL Y: Yes, and the drawing should show that.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Well, it shows the 46. You can
take it down and see the -- oh, I see it. Okay, never mind, it's good.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Murray?
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Mr. Kelly, I must admit, you've
confused me a little bit. Why did you show a drawing that is old when
we have drawings in the packet that -- which one are you trying to
have us agree to?
MR. KELLY: Yes, sir. The one in the packet, sir.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: So what was the relevance of the
one that was old?
MR. KELLY: What I did, sir, is I was -- this is my first Planning
Commission, so I was unaware of what drawings I needed. So I
reached into my pile of drawings and I happened to get one that was
old.
Weare actually drawing one very similar to this. Let me get --
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Well, I have to pose this
question while you're looking then. Because that drawing showed I
thought a 30-foot boat and this drawing that I'm looking at shows what
I think may be a 25 or 26-foot boat.
Page 40
June 3, 2010
MR. KELLY: Yes, sir.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: So which is it that we're
searching for?
MR. KELLY: The 25-foot boat, yes, sir. And it's in your packet.
I happened to --
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Well, I recognize that because
I'm looking at it.
MR. KELLY: And that's the one that I'm seeking approval on.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Could we work with that one,
please?
MS. CASERTA: For the record, Ashley Caserta.
Exhibit A, as attached to the CCPC resolution, is also the
proposed drawing that was included with the packet. I believe Mr.
Kelly used the exhibit that was approved by DEP. I believe it's the
exact same dock with a different size boat shown.
That DEP exhibit is also in your packet.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Okay.
MS. CASERTA: But the one that's attached to the resolution
shows a 25-foot vessel, and that is the one we are looking at.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: But if I heard you correctly then,
what we're saying is that the DEP approved a vessel up to 30 feet.
MS. CASERTA: Yes.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: So the dock that would be
constructed based on the newer, even though it would accommodate
potentially a 25 or 26-foot vessel, it could accommodate a 30-foot
vessel; is that what we're saying?
MS. CASERTA: As I understand it, it could accommodate a
30-foot vessel. The -- my criteria that I reviewed to doesn't have
anything to do with the size of the vessel, but it does have something
to do with, and I do look very closely at, where that vessel is going to
be moored and how far into the water it's going to go as far as
protrusion.
Page 41
June 3, 20]0
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Okay. So you understand my
concerns, that the size of a vessel has something to do with the weight,
which has to do with any kind of force on it against the dock and the
structure of the dock. So you build it to the size of the vessel to hold it,
that's where I'm coming from.
MS. CASERTA: Understood. And the DEP and the exhibit that
is shown attached to the resolution both show a 48.5-foot protrusion.
Same protrusion.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Thank you.
MR. KELL Y: As a matter of clarification, we didn't need to put
that 30- foot boat on there because Mr. Rotkvich indicated -- but even
if we did put a 30-foot boat on there, the combined length of the
vessels do not exceed the 50 percent rule, the Collier County rule for
vessel length. But we just reduced it to what he actually had planned.
And when I showed him the initial drawing and we signed off on
it, I showed him what I could maximum the -- the size of boat I could
maximum put on that particular lift. That's the reason for it.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Is that it, Bob?
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Yeah.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Anybody else?
Ms. Caron?
COMMISSIONER CARON: Yeah, in talking about the
combination of length of these vessels, this dock is being constructed
to handle two personal watercraft. I mean, that's what you've got
space for. Otherwise this whole configuration could be different. So
he may not own one right now, but you're building so he can have
two.
MR. KELL Y: He mentioned that he would potentially have a
single water -- personal watercraft. I told him that DEP's regulations
as well as Collier County requires that he have no more than two
vessels.
The design of this lift, they don't make a four-post lift for a
Page 42
June 3, 2010
personal watercraft, for single personal watercraft. The reason I
designed this like this, because that's the size of a lift that you can get.
And he's also talking about the possibility of setting it up for a
flats boat. Because it's very shallow in that area. And Mr. Rotkvich
likes to fish, and to get into the more shallow areas to fish he wouldn't
be able to do that with a 25- foot center console type boat.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay. Sir, could you put the diagram
on the projector that shows the water depth? We have one that shows
how your water depth graduates the distance and feet you go out.
Looks like it's attached to your DEP permit.
MR. KELLY: Oh, okay, good.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Yeah, that one there. You need to--
MR. KELL Y: Oh, he's already got it.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Fit it all in for me.
Okay, that's fine.
So you're looking at -- you need three feet of water depth to get
to your personal watercraft depth?
MR. KELLY: Well, no, sir. But the requirement ofDEP is that
you have at least three foot for a vessel.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay. So you need three feet of depth
in order to dock the personal watercraft.
MR. KELL Y: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: According to this diagram, the three feet
is 20 feet out from the mean high water line, right? Is that correct?
MR. KELL Y: Yes, sir. That's what it shows on the diagram,
yes, SIr.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay. Where is the boardwalk of that
diagram?
MR. KELLY: Well, the -- this particular diagram cannot show
the complete boardwalk because it's -- it goes out appro -- well, let's
see.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: What I'm getting at is it looks like
Page 43
June 3, 2010
you're 20 feet out from the mean high water and 30 feet out from
something. On the bottom of the page your arrow says mean high
water line/property line and it points to what I assume was the
measurement line where you're taking all your measurements from. Is
your mean high water and the property line the same thing?
MR. KELLY: Yes, sir. It's on the survey.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay. Well, then if your mean high
water and property line is the same thing and you're 20 feet out from
the mean high water property line, then how does that relate to the
page that you attached to your permit from the county that you just
had up there that shows you being actually 24 feet out to the launch
for the -- or actually the boat dock for the personal motor craft, the one
that you moved to the -- yeah, on that one.
Now, back off of that one a bit. You got to back off of it a little
bit. Okay, towards the bottom.
Do you see where it says mean high water property line? It's the
second line up from the bottom.
MR. KELLY: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN : Your measurement from that line is 25
plus four to the lift for the personal watercraft. So you're actually
almost 30 feet. That seems to conflict with your depth find of 20 feet
that you show on the document that we previously discussed. The
documents don't seem to jive.
And while we're on that subject, in the very first document you
showed us from the DEP --
MR. KELLY: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: -- you showed a mangrove drip line that
is completely different than the mangrove drip line on the application
to the county. And I've seen no documents in your package that
shows how your mangrove drip line overlays to the aerial, such as we
saw in the first application.
And the reason that's important is if that mangrove drip line
Page 44
June 3, 2010
changes and you've got the depth, you can move these docks in further
and it wouldn't need such an extension.
MR. KELL Y: Well, I have to address this particular slide that
we've got up here. The mangrove -- that does not conform to the
mangrove drip line, where I've got labeled the mangroves. It's just to
indicate that there are mangroves in there. I did not conform that to
the mangrove drip line.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay.
MR. KELLY: So that's just an indication.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Now, let's address the distance from the
property line mean high water line. On this drawing it shows to the
lift for the personal watercraft 29 feet. And the width of the piling
might make it say close to 30. But on the DEP application that we
pointed out earlier, you're showing 20 feet for that position from the
same line. So that's a distance of 10 feet more. And I'm wondering
how we got there.
MR. KELLY: One moment while I look for this particular
drawing.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Well, I'll tell you what, we need to take
a break for the court reporter. Why don't we do that, you can get your
paperwork organized, you know what questions I'm going to have and
then we can come back.
So let's take a break until 10:00, we'll come back and 10:00 and
resume. Thank you.
(Recess. )
(At which time, Commissioner Murray is absent.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, everyone, welcome back from
break. We were fortunate to have a lot of reading handed out to us on
break, so -- Melissa, this is your first meeting. And ever since Nick
took over, we've had less to do. But then occasionally we have these
big volumes of documents to read. So you will have a very good
weekend reading all this, I'm sure.
Page 45
June 3, 2010
So Mr. Kelly, let's go back to your issues.
MR. KELLY: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Have you been able to figure out these
dimensions?
MR. KELLY: Yes, sir, I have.
The depth chart that you have which is the side view, those
measurements into the water, the depths are -- were taken at the -- at
those distances. Not these distances that are on the side view, but
where the lift is going to go.
We actually have on the aerial -- or on the overhead view we
have the survey. And this is what was approved through DEP and
what I actually submitted. And it is part of your package. It is going
to be 30 feet out, and it is three foot at the point of the dock.
I put this together. The drawing of the side view with the depths,
I put it together later for DEP. And obviously they didn't catch this or
question it. But it was incorrect.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Which was incorrect, the application of
the DEP?
MR. KELL Y: Yes, sir. The -- I had to provide them with depth
readings and the side measurements or the side view. So that went
with the DEP package. And I never changed it for Collier County
when I put in the application. So this is incorrect, the side view
distances out.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay. Then how do we know where
the depths fall in relationship to the entire length of the dock, starting
from the mean high water line? Because, I mean, that's a requirement.
We need to understand where your depths go to understand why
you're justifying a depth so you can meet the primary and secondary
criteria. And this kind of puts the kibosh on that a little bit.
MR. KELLY: Well, the surveyor provided me with depth
readings all the way out. And I tried to superimpose those depth
readings, and I obviously made an error in the distance on the side
Page 46
June 3, 2010
VIew. It is three foot at the lift point on the survey, which is 30 feet
out.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay. I -- I don't think the mindset is to
say you can't have a dock.
MR. KELL Y: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Generally we try to get people to get
their docks. If you own a piece of property in the water, you know,
you should have a right to have a dock.
But I think we have to have complete and accurate records every
time we issue a permit or we could have problems like you saw with
the neighbor in the prior hearing.
Your documents I think could use a little touching up. I think if
you gave us a depth chart with the dock overlaid on the depth chart
and with the drip lines that matched the aerial so we see how the
mangrove drip lines match with the docks and how the docks match
with the depths and how the boat areas all line up.
Because the way it appears now, you may not need as much of a
protrusion based on depth as you're asking for, and that is one of the
criteria that you have to meet. So you might be better off coming
back to us with some more better laid out documents so we can
finalize this. But that's just a suggestion.
We'll wait and hear what Ashley has to say and then the rest of
the questions from the Planning Commission. I just -- I think we
should use a little more information to make sure that there's no
mistake in the way you build a dock versus what you're permitted for.
MR. KELLY: Well, sir, we have an aerial. And again, it's not--
and it shows the overlay. I can't make it out very well. It's a copy.
The -- there is a dock drawn on an aerial view of the --
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Right.
MR. KELL Y: -- of this area that we want to propose this dock.
And it shows all the mangroves there. So you have the mangrove
drip, but -- the drip line.
Page 47
June 3, 2010
But I'm trying to see if I have a good copy of that that would --
and I don't think that I do.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay. Do you have the -- but you don't
have an accurate drawing right now then of the depth going out as the
dock goes out, one over-layed on the other; is that a fair statement?
MR. KELLY: That's a fair statement, yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay. And here's some of the criteria
that you have to meet. And you probably are aware of this.
Secondary criteria number one talks about the dimensions of the
dock and it said, there must be at least one special condition related to
the property. These may include type of shoreline reinforcement,
shoreline configuration, mangrove growth or sea grass beds.
And if you don't have a mangrove reason to have the docks out
that far and you don't have a depth reason to have the docks out that
far, you don't meet all the criteria to be out that far. Now, you may
have those reasons that may be legitimate, but I think you need to
clearly show those based on the fact that the drawing that we were
looking at is in error. I think a corrected drawing and I think a
drawing showing the actual drip line of the mangroves instead of an
erratic line would go a tremendous way to help you make your case
that this is needed. At least that's my thought. You may hear more
before the days over, but --
MR. KELLY: Well, I wanted to mention the fact that the -- that
the secondary lift, the one for the flats boat, or the PWC, whichever
they elect to put on there, will need approximately 18 to 24 inches of
depth just for the lift. You've got a cradle system, you've got a bunk
system that holds that vessel up. And that's I think part of the
requirement from DEP, that you have at least three foot at the point of
a lift.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Oh, and I'm not disagreeing with you at
all. No, you're not -- I'm not trying to disagree with you. I'm simply
-- I don't have the documents in front of me telling me that that
Page 48
June 3, 2010
distance that you have out is where you need to be to meet that depth.
In fact, I have a document that says you don't need to be that far out to
meet that depth. That's the conflict.
MR. KELLY : Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Anyway, anybody else have any
questions of the applicant before we go to the staff report?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Yes.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Brad?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Yeah. And back again on --
above the watercraft you have a 12- foot by 18- foot dock area you're
building, right?
MR. KELLY: Yes.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Am I reading that right?
Because you have -- well, why do you have a diagonal pattern, just to
represent that that's part of the existing dock?
MR. KELLY: The program that I used to draw these with is
called Smart Draw, and they don't have the ability to -- or did not at
the time I drew these over a year ago, have the ability to draw the
dock pattern the other way.
This is not the dock pattern. I've already made that aware to Mr.
Rotkvich. So that's not the pattern.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Okay. Well, what is that -- why
do you have that large area there? You saw in the prior hearing that
we were concerned about bringing too much dock out. What is going
to happen out there?
MR. KELLY: Yes, sir. Two things: First off, it is difficult to
load; and you really shouldn't load a boat, and it's difficult underneath
a lift. So you need a docking area or a staging area where you can
place a boat to off-load and on-load coolers or fishing gear, whatever
you need.
It is not recommended by any lift company that you ride a lift up
and down or have -- you know, try and put that on underneath a lift.
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June 3, 2010
So that's part of the reason.
The other reason is Mr. Rotkvich has family that comes down
and visits from time to time, and they would like a fishing area that
they could go out there and enjoy the evening and fish or do whatever
they want to out there.
But the main reason is for the -- for the departure of the boat,
loading and unloading the boat.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: But why isn't it then four feet,
five feet? Why do you need essentially eight feet by 12? I mean --
MR. KELLY: Well, the maximum amount of terminal platform
that is allowed pretty much is 160 square feet that DEP likes to abide
by. And they do have the four-foot access walk. So we kind of stayed
within those regulations.
And of course the larger lift has to go out that far to
accommodate a 25-foot boat. And therefore, we just -- that platform
just fit within that -- in those criteria.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Okay. All right, I'm done,
thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, Ms. Caron?
COMMISSIONER CARON: Yeah, on this -- I believe it's the
one you have up on the visualizer right now. That mangrove line
there, that is a surveyed mangrove line; is that what you were telling
us?
MR. KELLY: Yes, ma'am.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Okay, thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, and if that is a surveyed
mangrove line, that means mangroves are not an issue in relationship
to the placement of your dock. So now it becomes a depth issue, and
that isn't going to be an important one.
MR. KELLY: Yes.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay.
Ashley?
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June 3, 2010
MS. CASERTA: I just thought I would touch on that, as opposed
to waiting until it was my turn to comment.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Well, it's your turn. I think we're done
asking.
MS. CASERTA: Okay, primary criteria number -- sorry,
secondary criteria number one, whether there are special conditions
not involving water depth related to the subject property which justify
the proposed dimensions and location.
The reason it is designed, as I understood it according to the
application, the reason the proposed dock is designed at this location is
because there's an existing dock that protrudes into the water through
the mangroves at this same location. So that is what justifies the
location and placement of the accessed walkway through the
mangroves.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: I was more talking about if you look at
the positioning of the boat against the location of those lines that were
squiggly in regards to the drip line --
MS. CASERTA: Yes.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: -- if the boat can go closer to the
mangroves, it wouldn't need to be so far out. So that's how I was
looking at it. I wasn't too concerned about where the walkway was
coming through the mangroves.
MS. CASERTA: I understood your point.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, it's all yours now. You want to
make a regular presentation, or --
MS. CASERTA: The only thing I have to say is that I received
one phone call from a neighboring property owner at 43 Southport
Cove that stated they had no objection to the petition.
And I'm available to answer questions.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Anybody have a question of Ashley?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Silence.
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June 3, 2010
Thank you. Ray, do we have any public speakers registered?
MR. BELLOWS: I have a speaker form, but it's filled out by
Michelle (sic) Rotkvich, I guess.
MR. ROTKVICH: It would be Michael.
MR. BELLOWS: Oh, Michael, excuse me.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Sir, do you want to come up and speak,
or -- I mean, if your agent has spoken all you needed, that's fine. But
it's up to you if you want to say something, you're more than welcome
to.
MR. ROTKVICH: I just had a couple of concerns about --
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: You have to come up and use the
microphone, and state your name. And if you could, spell the last
spelling of it for the court reporter.
MR. ROTKVICH: My name's Michael Rotkvich. Last name is
R -0- T - K - V-I -C- H. I'm the owner of 54 Southport Cove.
We received a restoration for the shoreline as far as adding
vegetation. And within it we have all intentions on complying with
the vegetation. But I would like some consideration on two issues.
There's an existing tree, ficus trees that are planted in the
backyard. They've been there for I believe forever. But I know at
least 17 years, the previous owner planted it. And I have a four-inch
flagpole that just encroaches into the easement by maybe a foot.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Well, I hate to tell you this, but this has
been advertised only as a discussion on your boat dock extension. If
there are other issues, they cannot be brought up for any kind of
discussion or motion today. So -- and there are processes within the
county to address all those that you have to go through first before you
bring this issue up.
MR. ROTKVICH: Okay.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Ashley, is there anything different?
MS. CASERTA: Attached to the resolution there is a planting
plan.
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June 3, 2010
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Right.
MS. CASERTA: And so that's what he's talking about. Because
the environmental reviewer had requested that planting plan be in
place as part of this boat dock extension.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Right. But we're not dealing with his
removal of a ficus tree or of a variance on a flagpole, though, are we?
MS. CASERTA: The planting plan as I understand it is requiring
those to happen.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, I stand corrected. Sorry.
If the -- but the planting plan -- Ashley, just come on back up.
The planting plan doesn't allow for a variance, does it? I mean, if
he's saying he has a flagpole encroaching -- and to be honest with you,
I didn't pay much attention to the planting plan, so maybe we need
staff to -- and I see Susan walking on up. Maybe she can enlighten us
as to what this issue is about and how it relates to the boat dock
extension.
MS. MASON: Good morning. For the record, Susan Mason
with Stormwater and Environmental Planning Section.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Stormwater?
MS. MASON: That's our new section.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: They stuck you in Stormwater?
MS. MASON: And Environmental Planning. And -- maybe I'll
just say and Environmental Planning really loud.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Oh, boy. Why don't you just take a big
stick over at CDES and just stir it all up and see what comes out of it.
MS. MASON: I had to say what section because I couldn't
remember my department name.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: I don't blame you.
MS. MASON: The reason that the planting plan -- the replanting
plan is required for this part of Lely Barefoot Beach's PUD
requirements, there's a 20-foot -- all these houses that are up in this
area in Southport Cove have a 20- foot conservation easement at the
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June 3, 2010
back of their property and it's required to be maintained and the --
largely mangroves but other native vegetation.
There are some properties that don't comply with this.
The previous boat dock extension that you just heard, you may
have noticed in some of the photos, you can see on that vacant lot they
had put up their silt fencing and all the protective signage so they don't
encroach into their 20- foot required easement and don't damage it.
There are some existing homes and some other properties that
don't have the native vegetation. And when those come in for review,
we do have them come into compliance with the conservation
easement and make it either part of a boat dock -- if it didn't require an
extension, it would be at the building permit review.
This applicant was given the opportunity, when they came in, to
either supply the restoration plan as part of this review or to -- that we
could turn the case over to Code Enforcement. They elected to
provide the restoration plan.
And as part of that plan, on Page 1 under existing conditions
section, the third paragraph, it does say that the sod, the flagpole and
the non-native exotics will be removed. And that would be a
requirement of maintaining it in its natural state.
And to kind of further answer your question about whether or not
a planting plan could approve a variance, no it could not, it would
have to be in compliance with the existing platted conservation
easement.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Thank you. I appreciate that
background.
And now, sir, let's get to your other questions. You had the ficus
tree issue and a --
MR. ROTKVICH: The location --
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: -- issue with your flagpole. What is it
you wanted --
MR. ROTKVICH: The location of the flagpole.
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June 3, 2010
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: -- to do with the --let's start with the
ficus trees. What is it you were asking in relationship to this --
MR. ROTKVICH: Well, I'd like to -- if! could incorporate it
into that layout for the --
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Conservation plan? I can probably tell
you no before she does. Ficuses are not much longer allowed as
acceptable planting in Collier County. At least some of the species.
And they're not something I think you would want to see in a
conservation plan, because it's not native. So I would say no to that. I
don't think you can go there.
And is that -- Susan, please correct me if I'm wrong on those
assumptions.
MS. MASON: No, you're substantially correct. There was --
there's a couple of native ficus species. I don't know the species that
this is referring to. However, since the professional who prepared this,
who is a biologist, you can see on the last sheet of the planting plan,
the credentials for the person who prepared it, he is qualified. Since
he had stated that they were to be removed, it would be a non-native
ficus.
And the same with the structures. Like a flagpole could not be
permitted. The easement does allow -- really the only structure is the
dock to pass through the mangrove area.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: And the flagpole. So what that means is
if you want the flagpole to stay there, you have to go through a
variance process. And it would probably mean amending your
conservation easement.
I don't even know if, to be honest with you, that would even be
worth it.
Are there any other questions you had, sir?
MR. ROTKVICH: Well, no. I just wanted to make that
statement.
When I bought the property a year ago, there was nothing
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June 3, 2010
stipulating that I had to -- I didn't even -- I didn't know that the
easement had to be landscaped. I figured it was a developer that
cleared the lot and was permitted to do so. And I have to re-landscape
the lot.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Yeah, we found this is happening quite
a bit in the county. So you're not alone, if that helps you any.
MR. ROTKVICH: Well, I'm alone today.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Thank you.
MR. ROTKVICH: You're welcome. Thank you very much.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Now, we're back at -- I think we've
heard all the public speakers, we've had the comments.
Mr. Kelly. And I'll turn to the rest of the board for an opinion
too. I don't know how to get through to the end point today with
approval with the documents that aren't as complete as they need to
be.
I don't think you've got a problem if you get the rest of -- if you
bring the documents, fine tune them. Bring us an accurate depth
document showing where the dock is located in relationship to the
depth and all that, and to come back and request right now a
continuance to come back at another time.
Now, you don't have to do that, we can vote on it the way it is,
but it may not be a favorable vote if you don't come back with better
paperwork. It's up to you.
MR. KELLY: I'll request a continuance.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Is that okay with the rest of the Planning
Commission?
COMMISSIONER CARON: It's the right thing to do.
MR. KELLY: So what you would like to see is the depth
readings going out, accurate depth readings?
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Well, we need the depth readings
showing where the dock is located in relationship to the depth, since
you've told us now that the other document we have is not accurate.
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June 3, 2010
And we also -- I think it would be helpful to know where that
drip line is of the mangroves, to show that you're not intruding in the
mangroves and whether or not they impact the docks. In case the
depths show you could be moved in, the mangroves may be the
prohibiting factor.
So I think those two things would be important for you to bring
back to us. Okay? Does that work for everybody?
Okay, so the motion's been for -- the applicant's asked for a
continuance. Is there a motion to accept that?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: So moved.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Schiffer.
Seconded by?
COMMISSIONER CARON: Second.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Ms. Caron.
All in favor, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Aye.
COMMISSIONER AHERN: Aye.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: Aye.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Aye.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Aye.
Anybody opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, thank you very much, sir, we
appreciate it.
Item #9C
PETITION: V A-PL2009-045, SARA BARRERA
Next item up is a variance petition, V A-PL2009-045, Sara
Barrera at 202 W ashington Avenue.
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June 3, 2010
All those wishing to testify on behalf of this item, please rise to
be sworn in by the court reporter.
(Speakers were duly sworn.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Are there any comments from--
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: I have a disclosure. I asked for
and received the copy of the plans that I believe were submitted for
permit in 2008 -- or, I'm sorry, a year ago, 2009.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay. Any other disclosures?
Mr. Midney?
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: I had a conversation with the
applicant during the break.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay. That's it, great. Thank you.
I guess the presentation is being made by the applicant. Mr. or
Mrs. Barrera?
MR. BARRERA: Yes, sir.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay. You can make it as short as you
want. And we can just ask you questions, however you'd like to
proceed.
MR. BARRERA: Good morning, everybody.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: You have to identify yourself first for
the court reporter.
MR. BARRERA: My name is Jose Barrera. B-A-R-R-E-R-A.
MRS. BARRERA: My name is Sara Barrera. S-A-R-A.
B-A-R-R-E-R-A.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Thank you.
MR. BARRERA: We're just here with this petition for that we
can keep our very much needed space. We're kind of nervous, so --
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: That's quite all right. I notice all your
neighbors are in support of what you're trying to do.
MR. BARRERA: Yes, sir. We spoke with everybody, and
nobody is opposed to it. Everybody is -- it's okay with.
We even spoke with the -- it was a high school and they weren't
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June 3, 2010
against it either. So we're just here and hoping we can, you know,
approve it.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: We'll make this as painless as possible.
MR. BARRERA: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Thank you.
And we'll ask -- we'll see if there's any questions. Any questions
from the Planning Commission of the applicant?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Does the staff have a report? You may
break a record today in being the fastest processed application.
MS. GUNDLACH: Yes. Good morning, Commissioners. I'm
Nancy Gundlach, Principal Planner with the Department of Zoning
Services. And we are recommending approval of this variance.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay. Any questions of staff?
Mr. Midney?
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Yeah, I have a question. I'm
wondering if the county discovering this eight-foot encroachment and
bringing it before this board is a really good use of staff time and
expense for the homeowner, the $5,000 that he had to pay.
Considering how many similar violations you could potentially find in
Immokalee if you really started looking. Do we really want staff to
be, you know, looking for that kind of thing? Especially since it's not
really a negative effect on anybody's health or welfare of the
community.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Well, Paul, I certainly do agree with
you. I think the only way this should have come up is if there was a
complaint filed. And ifthere wasn't a complaint filed, it shouldn't be
in front of us today and these people shouldn't have had to waste the
money to be here.
MS. GUNDLACH: Yes, I can respond to that.
There is a copy of the code enforcement case in the backup.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Was there a complaint?
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June 3, 2010
MS. GUNDLACH: Yes, there was. They responded to a
complaint.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay. Well, we're kind of stuck with it,
unfortunately.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Question of Nancy.
Nancy, did they obtain a permit or they're in the process of?
MS. GUNDLACH: We can ask them.
Have you applied for a building permit?
MR. BARRERA: No, ma'am. They say we just need like an
after -the- fact permit.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Right.
MR. BARRERA: I think so, yes. Yes, because we submitted
everything there. So that's what it is, after-the-fact permit.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Okay. So these are being
processed as we speak? I mean, they were drawn up in 2008, October.
The date of this, Nancy, I guess -- where did you get it from?
MS. GUNDLACH: From our applicant.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Which is five, 2009.
I mean, you're going to have to -- this still means you have to get
a building permit.
MR. BARRERA: Yes, sir. I think that's what was said with
Maria Rodriguez, I think, we have to get an after-the-fact permit. And
I don't know; something that we have to pay some twice the amount of
the fines or something like that. That's all I really know.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Thank you.
MR. BARRERA: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: I think it's odd that there was a
complaint filed but there's no objection to this.
MS. GUNDLACH: Yeah, I noted that in the staff report.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Do we know who filed a complaint?
Was it an individual or was it --
MS. GUNDLACH: Well, complaints filed with code
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June 3, 2010
enforcement are anonymous.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: That's another problem with this
County. So--
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: But, you know, that being said,
Mark, I don't think it's a good idea for people to go ahead and enclose
carports without obtaining building permits because of things like this.
A carport is not the same as an enclosed building.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Yeah, but when the process costs more
to fix the problem than the problem costs to do, I mean, this is a lot of
money.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Well, then the money versus
penalty we could look at. And I think Nick is looking at that stuff.
But the concern is there's no way we should give anybody the
impression we encourage you to do your carport enclosure without a
building permit first. Because I think you may have difficulty getting a
permit, because it's difficult to get a permit, even if you do it brand
new.
COMMISSIONER CARON: And I mean, this one involves a
bathroom, and it involves plumbing, not --
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Right.
COMMISSIONER CARON: -- just the structure alone. I think
there are a lot of potential pitfalls here that --
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: And then what happens is the --
COMMISSIONER CARON: Hopefully they've done it right.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: -- they'll look for a statement
from a design professional who will endorse that everything was done
properly. Which; the only guy I think can do that is Superman, who
can look into things. So it is a -- it's a mess if you build it ahead of
time. And you know that better than anybody.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Regardless, they're in the process to get
it fixed and I think that's where we're at today.
Does this board have any questions or concerns they want to ask
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June 3, 2010
of anybody at this point?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, hearing none, we'll close the
public hearing and ask for a motion.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: I'll make --
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Schiffer?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Well, Paul--
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Go ahead, go ahead.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: -- it's his turf.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: No, no, no.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: I make a motion that we
recommend approval of this variance.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: I'll second.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Motion made by Mr. Schiffer, seconded
by Mr. Midney.
Discussion?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: All in favor, signify by saying aye.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Aye.
COMMISSIONER AHERN: Aye.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: Aye.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Aye.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Aye.
Anybody opposed?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Motion carries 6-0.
And by the way, let the record show Mr. Murray had to leave
earlier for a prior engagement.
And thank you very much. And again, sorry you had the expense
to get here today, but --
MR. BARRERA: I appreciate it.
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June 3, 2010
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Okay, old business. We don't have any.
Anybody?
(No response.)
Item #11
NEW BUSINESS
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: New business. Nick?
MR. CASALANGUIDA: Just for discussion purposes, as you
hear these variance processes, we're looking -- working with the
County Attorney's Office to come up with an administrative variance
process that would be a little different.
This building is what, 10, 12, 13, 15 years old? Things like this
where you talked about the expense in coming in front of the Planning
Commission, criteria, time, if an application was filed. These are the
kind of things you'd want to see handled more administratively.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Well, Nick, to be honest with you, the
issue that I'm having with it is not the fact they're coming -- have to
come through the process. That's fine, it's safe, it makes it work.
But the cost. Someone said it was $5,000. That's huge. To get
to a -- just to come in and ask for permission, just because somebody
made a mistake. I don't know if they intentionally made one or not,
but they didn't -- you know, I don't know why we'd want to charge
someone that kind of money. That's a lot of money.
MR. CASALANGUIDA: It's based on advertising, staff time,
preparing the --
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Right, so--
MR. CASALANGUIDA: -- packages. If you want to do an
abbreviated process for something like this, I'm sure we could come
up with an abbreviated --
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Well, I think if you're coming in with a
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June 3, 2010
suggestion that there's a better way to do it that would save the public
money, I'm all for that. So -- I don't know.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: But here's the thing we've got to
be careful. We do not want to endorse what this guy did.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Right.
MR. CASALANGUIDA: Right.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: And he's showing drawings
with assumptions of footings that I know are not there for a carport.
And you don't want to make it where it's easy for somebody to
take a carport like he did and just enclose it. There's life safety issues
on the inside of the house, there's issues on ventilation of the windows
that Donna brought out, that there's plumbing in this case. God only
knows what's happening.
And we -- you know, we have a building process. We can never
encourage anybody to do it.
His only reason he's before us is he made the mistake of violating
the setback because the original carport did. But in the design of that
neighborhood, you know, maybe the main building had a setback and
carports had a different setback, and that makes sense, because a
carport's an open structure.
MR. CASALANGUIDA: And we're discussing criteria, time, if
it was the original owner. I mean, ifthere's things that we could look
at that would, you know, qualify for an abbreviated process.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: All right. And I think that's the key.
And I don't disagree with Brad's position; I just disagree with the costs
for the public to do anything here.
And we're just -- we've got excessive costs. It would be nice if
we could be user-friendly, financially.
Go ahead, Ms. Caron.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Yeah, I want to say that I totally
agree with Brad. I really think we have to be very careful on these
types of variances. We should be supporting the people who follow
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June 3, 2010
the rules as opposed to making exceptions for those who don't follow
the rules in the beginning.
And as I did say, this one has plumbing issues and other things.
So it could be -- as well as electrical and potentially structural, as
Mr. Schiffer pointed out. So I really think we have to be very
cautious.
MR. CASALANGUIDA: And whatever we do obviously will be
vet in front of this Commission. But the idea is to come up with
criteria. Maybe there are no building issues, you know, building
permits were secured. It's not the original owner, time. I mean,
different criteria that we can work with the County Attorney's Office
to bring back with discussion in front of this Commission to say what
makes sense for an abbreviated process.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: And let's look at it this way: I
mean, you have a lot of projects where people enclose a carport that's
within the setbacks that are silent, we never hear about that.
MR. CASALANGUIDA: That's right.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: And in that process you double
the permit fee. That's your only thing.
Now, if the mistake is that they cause a very -- you know, a
setback issue or something that would come before us, that should be
the additional cost that we look at. You've studied all your costs, do
you think the $5,000 is a fair number?
MR. CASALANGUIDA: You know, it's representative of staff
time going into the project to review it, meeting with the neighbors.
If it's something that's contentious where people come in and ask for a
lot of information. So, you know, it's never the same.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Right.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Well, maybe we ought to be looking at
the cost on a case-by-case basis and not penalizing the smaller
innocuous applications like this for the averaging out of the more
contentious ones.I
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June 3, 2010
MR. CASALANGUIDA: Sure.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Maybe the cost should be a not
to exceed, and you bill it in-house.
MR. CASALANGUIDA: A base cost or, you know, cost plus.
This is the base cost and if it becomes contentious, requires more time,
it's added on.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: And have a cap so that if it's an
easy one, it's easy.
And then do they to come before a board like this is the question.
What do you think? I mean, who should argue whether that setback --
I mean, obviously if there's no neighbors complaining, that's a
situation different than if a neighbor's complaining.
So what if you had it where in-house there's -- you've got really
good letters, somehow certify the letters of the neighbors and --
MR. CASALANGUIDA: Well, we're going to be bringing some
documents forward for your review with some criteria, and we can
talk about it some more at that point in time.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Why don't we give it some time for you
to suggest something and we'll go from there. That way the County
Attorney can review it to make sure it's sufficient.
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Okay, good.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Ms. Ahem?
COMMISSIONER AHERN: Code Enforcement follows this
until they get their permit, correct?
MR. CASALANGUIDA: Yes.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Yes.
Okay, anybody else have any questions or comments?
(No response.)
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Then I think we are done.
Is there a motion to adjourn?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: So moved.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Mr. Schiffer. Second--
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June 3, 2010
COMMISSIONER CARON: Second.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: -- by Ms. Caron.
All in favor?
COMMISSIONER SCHIFFER: Aye.
COMMISSIONER AHERN: Aye.
COMMISSIONER MIDNEY: Aye.
COMMISSIONER HOMIAK: Aye.
COMMISSIONER CARON: Aye.
CHAIRMAN STRAIN: Aye.
We're out of here. Thank you all. See you on the 15th.
*****
There being no further business for the good of the County, the
meeting was adjourned by order of the Chair at 10:32 a.m.
COLLIER COUNTY
PLANNING COMMISSION
MARK STRAIN, Chairman
These minutes approved by the board on
presented or as corrected
as
Transcript prepared on behalf of Gregory Reporting Service, Inc., by
Cherie' R. Nottingham.
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